The Pigeon Tale | Page 6

in of the tree," explained the squirrel; "this is
where the blossoms and leaves are kept when not in use."
It was all a little confusing at first to Laurie, for the squirrels seemed to
be in such haste, but they were so friendly, and chattered so pleasantly
to him that somehow or other he understood everything they were
saying, though they talked in squirrel language, and so by-and-by he
felt more at home, and sat down while they brought him some
refreshments.
[Illustration: Such delicious morsels, served in the most tempting

manner]
Such delicious morsels, served in the most tempting manner! Purée of
chestnuts, and hickory-nut cake--wonderful cherry cordial, made, the
squirrels explained to Laurie, out of melted sap of the wild cherry
tree--exquisite walnuts baked in acorn cups. Oh! I can't tell you half
what there was, for Laurie did not know himself, but it was all very
delicious, and the squirrels too seemed to think it an important occasion,
for there was a great deal of whisking of tails, and the squirrel waiters
sat up very stiffly with their little paws held up in front of them, as
though they knew how much was expected of them and meant to do
their share. Every now and then Laurie would see a pair of bright eyes
peeping at him over the stair, then off would scurry a baby squirrel
afraid of being caught, "for all the world," thought Laurie, "the way we
do at home when we are forbidden to come down when mother is
giving a party, so watch instead from a landing on the stair when
nurse's back is turned."
[Illustration: The squirrel led the way down the winding stair.]
After the refreshments, there was more bowing and waving of bushy
tails and hand shaking or paw shaking, I do not know which--for it was
time to be off; Laurie thanked them very much and said he would like
to come again, which was very true indeed, and he said in his most
"grown up way" that he had had a delightful time, and the squirrels
seemed pleased and nodded again, and the same old squirrel, who must
have been the door-keeper, for he kept jingling a great bunch of keys in
his hands, now led the way down the winding stair again, until they
reached what must have been the cellar part of the tree, where the
squirrels kept their stores for the winter. It had grown so dark that their
guide now took a lantern down from the wall and, fastening a glow
worm inside to light the way, showed Laurie great piles of nuts and
acorns stacked in the corners. After a while they came to a little door
and, passing through it--the squirrel leading the way, after him the
pigeon, and Laurie bringing up the rear--they found themselves in a
long passage, smelling of earth and mould. "It surely must be
underground," thought Laurie, "I wonder if the moles and mice have

streets just as we do. Oh, dear! I do hope we don't meet that dreadful
turkey-gobbler." Before he had time to think much about it, they came
to another little door, on the other side of which was a stair that
evidently led up into another tree.
Here the squirrel with the lantern bade them good-bye, and disappeared
down the corridor. The pigeon led the way up the stair, at the top of
which was a rough wooden door. "We must leave a message here," said
he, tapping on the door, and after waiting some time, Laurie thought he
heard a gruff voice say, "To-who-to-who?" "Why doesn't he come and
see instead of asking?" thought Laurie, but just then the door opened,
and an old owl put out his head.
[Illustration: An old owl put out his head]
[Illustration: The owl]
CHAPTER V.
The owl looked very sleepy, and blinked his eyes very hard. "He must
have been asleep," said Laurie to himself, "owls always do sleep in the
day-time I suppose."
"Who-oo!" screeched the owl, flapping his wings and ruffling up his
feathers, and looking very hard at Laurie. "Oh, dear! I beg your
pardon," said Laurie, feeling very much frightened indeed, "I didn't
mean to be rude, but all the birds and animals on the farm here have
such a curious way of knowing what I'm thinking." The owl paid no
attention to him, however, but opened the door wider for them to enter,
and Laurie, keeping close behind the pigeon, stepped in. The owl was
evidently a bachelor, for his room was very untidy; books and papers
lay piled about in the greatest confusion, and while he tried in a clumsy
way to make room for them, every now and then he would upset
something, as he was extremely